Although there is still plenty of snow and interest in skiing and snowboarding remains, three Lake Tahoe ski resorts – Homewood Mountain, Kirkwood Mountain, Tahoe Donner – closed Sunday.
Like many Lake Tahoe ski resorts, Kirkwood Mountain has enjoyed a massive season in regards to snow totals, accumulating 685 inches.
Perhaps it was fitting that the three ski resorts closed on a day when the snow returned to the Lake Tahoe region. It began snowing Sunday afternoon and may continue through Monday night.
Three other Lake Tahoe ski resorts – Donner Ski Ranch, Granlikbakken – are scheduled to close Monday.
Like many Lake Tahoe ski resorts, Kirkwood Mountain has enjoyed a massive season in regards to snow totals, accumulating 685 inches. Although Kirkwood closed, two other Vail Resorts in Lake Tahoe – Northstar California, Heavenly Mountain – remain open. Northstar closes next weekend and Heavenly shuts down its lifts April 30.
Records are falling as fast as the snowfall this season. Four Lake Tahoe ski resorts have eclipsed the 700-inch mark this season. Sugar Bowl leads the way with 775 inches, followed by Mount Rose (752), Boreal Mountain (740) and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows (700). Northstar California (699) should join the 700-inch club sometime Sunday with a new storm expected to hit the Tahoe region.
Homewood Mountain also enjoyed huge snow totals this season. A note on its website summed up the 2016-17 ski season. “Thank you for a great season! We couldn’t have asked for a better winter – this was truly one for the books!
Heavenly Mountain and three other Lake Tahoe ski resorts have broken season snow total records in the 2016-17 season. Also establishing new season-total snow records are Northstar California, Mount Rose and Diamond Peak ski resorts.
HEAVENLY MOUNTAIN: Located in South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly received 34 inches of snow over the past week. It’s snow total has reached 654 inches for the 2016-17 season.
Heavenly reached 600 inches of snow by March, which is an astonishing fact, considering the resort averages 360 inches per season.
“We have enjoyed amazing snow totals this season. The snow really started coming in December and it just never stopped.” Heavenly spokesperson Anna Jacobson said.
MOUNT ROSE: The 752 inches this season shatters the old Mount Rose mark of 600 inches in 1994-95. The Nevada ski resort near North Lake Tahoe has had 500 or more inches five times in its history.
It’s been an amazing season at Mount Rose, which in early March had the largest snow total of any ski resort in North America.
“It’s been a record season in a big way. We should easily make 800 inches by the time we close,” said Mike Pierce, director of marketing at Mount Rose, thanks to the resort pushing back its closing date to Memorial Day (May 29). “This season just won’t quit, and we can’t say we’re not happy about it. “The conditions have been phenomenal.”
NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA: One more snow storm was enough to put Northstar over the limit, establishing a new seasonal total for snowfall a whopping 699 inches.
Located off Highway 267 in Truckee, Northstar received 42 inches over the past week in establishing the new record for snowfall. The previous season-high was 685 inches.
“Spring skiing is taking on a whole new persona at Northstar California. Mother Nature is gifting us with April powder days and continuously amazing corduroy runs,” Northstar spokesperson Stephanie Myers said.
DIAMOND PEAK: Located at Incline Village, the family-friendly ski resort shattered its previous high for snow with 487 inches this season. The previous high was 381 inches in 1982-83. Diamond Peak added 10 inches of new snow over two days this week.
“The best thing to come out of the past two above-average snow years is seeing all of our learn-to-ski family business return and watching all of the smiling faces leave the resort with something memorable to talk about,” Diamond Peak general manager Mike Bandelin said. “It has just been one of those years, the kind you will tell your grandkids about. If you weren’t here this year, you better get here next year!”
Closing dates for Lake Tahoe resorts.
- Homewood: April 16
- Kirkwood Mountain: April 16
- Tahoe Donner: April 16
- Donner Ski Ranch: April 17
- Granlibakken: April 17
- Soda Springs: April 23
- Sugar Bowl: April 23
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: April 23
- Diamond Peak: April 23
- Northstar: April 23
- Boreal Mountain: April 23
- Heavenly Mountain: April 30
- Mt. Rose: May 29
- Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows: July 4
